Manually operated boat propelling mechanism



Dec. 29, 1953 J. F. PRENosn., sR

MANUALLY OPERATED BOAT PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. l1, 1952 2,y.smms-snee; 1

IHMHH Dec 29, 1953 J. F. PRENos1L, sR

MANUALLY OPERATED BOAT PROPELLING- MECHANISM Filed Jan. 1l, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29.,k 1953 MANUALLY OPERATED BOATPROPELLING MECHANISM Joseph v.Frank Prenosil, Sr., Moorhead.. Minn.Application January 11, 1952, SerialNoJ 266,047

3 Claims.

This invention relates to boats and has special reference to apropelling attachment'forboats.

One important object of the invention is to provide novel paddle meansfor propelling a boat, such paddle means being pedalfoperated bya personin charge of the boat.

The second important object of the invention is to provide, in a deviceof this character, a paddle attachment for boats ofv novel character'topermit the propulsion of the boatforward or backward-as desired and topermit, by the action of the mechanism, the boat to beturned tothe leftor right as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel device of thischaracter which ycan be ap-plied at any place in the length of arowboatindependently of the location of oar locks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel device of thischaracter suitable for use either for fishing or for pleasure and eitherby children or adults, the arrangement being such as to preventaccidentalcapsizing of the boat. With the above and other object in,Viewt as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists ingeneral of certain novel features of construction and combinationsofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed in the claims. In the drawings likecharacters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and inAs herein disclosed, there is indicated a boat hull having a bottom II)and sides II. The upper edges of the sides II are provided with gunwalesI2.

The attachment for this boat includes a pair of clamping members I3 foreach side of the boat and these pairs straddle the gunwales as clearlyshown in Figure 1. In order to firmly hold the member I3 in place thereis provided for each pair a bolt I4 which passes through the two membersI3 and upon being tightened draws these y2 rmly towards each other.AAtthe upper end of each pairof members i3 there'is provided anelongated 'sleeve I5r'1ermng a bearing fior a shaft I6.

vFixed centrallyfon -theishaft I6 is a belt pulley IT shaped to'accommodate a V-belt I8 the lower end of which passesiarounda beltpulley I9.

On the bottom 'ofthe boat there is mounted a reinforcing plate 20`whereon is bolted a plate 2I `liavingadjacent one end "thereof anelongated eye 22 Wherethrough passes a bolt 23. Extending upwardly fromthe eye 22 is apair of arms 24. These Varms converge -upwardly toward apair of similararms'25'the lower ends of which rest slidably on 'theplate '-`2I. Pivotally connected toa bolt 26 'joining the arms 25'is anadjusting arm 2T having notches 28`in its lower edge and these notchesselectivelyV engage abolt 29 joining the arms'24. The'upper ends of thearms`24 and are "connected tothe base portions 30 of `a. pair ofstandards r3 I `the upper ends of which are secured vto theadjacenten'ds oi." Sleeves I5.

Now `by adjustingthe'member 21 itwill be seen that `the lower ends oflthe arms 24and 25 canbe-movedvtoward 'or fromfeach other andthereby-the standards 3I can'be raised or lowered to Y conform to 'the yposition desired `for the shafts I6. The basel operations of thestandards 3[!have journaledtherein a shaft 32 whereon is iixed thepulleyI9. On the endsv of the shaft 32 'are yiixedV pedal arms 33 carrying theusual pedals'r34.

The Vshafts I6 Y extend outwardly beyond the sides II o1-theboltand on-theseextended ends are Aslidably mounted vclutch members 35 movableinto1and-outfof engagementwith clutch members 36 fixed to the respectiveshaft I6. The outer ends of the shaft I6 are provided with collars 31between which and the clutch members are springs 38 normally holdingsaid clutch members in engagement with the clutch members 36. A shiftingbar 39 extends, for each clutch, through eyes 40 fixed to the respectivesleeve I5. On the clutch members 35 are fixed sprocket wheels 4I aroundwhich pass the chains 42 which extend downwardly and around sprocketwheels 43'. 'I'he sprocket wheels 43 are mounted on sleeves 44 whichrotate on shafts 45 fixed to the lower ends of standards 46 which dependfrom and are fixed on the outer ends of sleeves I 5. On each of thesleeves 45 is mounted a paddle wheel 41 here shown as having four bladesalthough it may have any number oi' blades desired.

In the operation of the device the operator actuates the pedals thuscausing driving through the belt I 8 of the shaft I6 and, so long as theclutches are engaged, also effecting rotation of the paddle wheels whichdrive the boat. Obviously, the boat will be driven either forward orbackward according to the direction of rotation of the pedals. If it isdesired to cause the boat to turn to the right, the right hand clutch isdisengaged so that all the power is transmitted to the left hand clutch.If it is desired to drive the boat to the left, the left hand clutch issimilarly disengaged.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction, use, and operation thereof will at once beapparent, and while there is herein shown and described the preferredembodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood thatminor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination with a boat hullv having a bottom and sides, apropelling mechanism inm cluding alined bearing sleeves, a clamp meanscarrying said sleeves and adapted to t over and grip the upper edges ofsaid sleeves, a shaft extending through said sleeves, pedal meansconnected to the center of said shaft, a pair 01' paddle wheels, meansto support said paddle wheels exterior of the hull at the sides thereof,said shaft having its ends projecting outwardly of the remote ends ofsaid sleeves, a clutch member fixed adjacent each end of said shaft, acooperating clutch member for each fixed clutch member, means actuatedby said cooperative clutch members for driving said paddle wheels,springs urging said cooperating clutch members into engagement with thefixed clutch members, guide eyes fixed on said sleeves at the inner andouter portions thereof, shipper rods engaging said cooperating clutchmembers and extending inboard of the hull through said guide eyes, andoperating handles on the inner ends of said rods.

2. In combination with a boat hull having a bottom and sides, apropelling mechanism including alined bearing sleeves, clamp meanscarrying said sleeves and adapted to fit over and grip the upper edgesof said sleeves, a shaft extending through said sleeves, pedal meansconnected to the center of said shaft, a pair of paddle wheels, means tosupport said paddle wheels exterior of the hull at the sides thereof,said shaft having its ends projecting outwardly of the remote ends ofsaid sleeves, a clutch member fixed adjacent each end of said shaft, acooperating clutch member for each fixed clutch member,

4 including hangers fixed to and depending from the outer ends of saidsleeevs and journals projecting outwardly from the lower ends of saidhangers, said paddle wheels having hubs rotatably mounted on saidjournals, springs urging said cooperating clutch members into engagementwith the xed clutch members, guide eyes xed on said sleeve at the innerand outer portions thereof, shipper rods engaging said eooperatingclutch members and extending inboard of the hull through said guideeyes, and operating handles on the inner ends of said rods.

3. In combination with a boat hull having a bottom and sides, apropelling mechanism including alined bearing sleeves, clamp meanscarrying said sleeves and adapted to fit over and grip the' upper edgesof said sleeves, a shaft extending through said sleeves, pedal meansconnected to the center of said shaft, means for adjusting the height ofsaid pedal means to and from said bottom, a pair of paddle wheels, meansto support said paddle wheels exterior of the hull at the sides thereof,said shaft having its ends projecting outwardly of the remote ends ofsaid sleeves, a clutch member fixed adjacent each end of said shaft, acooperating clutch member for each fixed clutch member, means actuatedby said cooperative clutch members for driving said paddle Wheels,springs urging said cooperating clutch members into engagement with thexed clutch members, guide eyes xed on said sleeves at the outer andinner portions thereof, shipper rods engaging said cooperating clutchmembers and extending inboard of the hull through said guide eyes, andoperating handles on the inner ends of said rods.

JOSEPH FRANK PRENOSIL, SR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 650,613 Roe et al May 29, 1900 667,496 Caffey Feb. 5, 1901876,385 Mcllwee Jan. 14, 1908 961,749 Bell June 12, 1910 1,044,371 FuldaNov. 12, 1912 1,527,571 Morrison Feb. 24, 1925 1,532,990 Csengery Apr.7, 1925 1,589,708 Lavigne June 22, 1926 2,578,535 Graci Dec. 11, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,984 Great Britain 1884

